Kobe Bryant, center, and the Lakers need to regroup in the second half. / Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports

by Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports

by Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports

The NBA All-Star Game isn't the halfway point of the season, but it's a good time to regroup and look ahead to what's in store for the stretch run.

USA TODAY Sports NBA reporters Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt preview the top five story lines for the final two months of the season:

1. Los Angeles Lakers saga

For the sake of the Lakers' ill-fated chemistry, it may have been helpful if Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard had some time apart during the All-Star break. Alas, they were both named Western Conference starters and the daily questions about their so-called Super Team from the news media continued as a result. But you have to admit, it's hard to get enough of these guys.

Yet even a break from the never-ending drama will do little to help their fading playoff hopes, as the Lakers (25-29) are still 3½ games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 28 games to go. The continued absence of forward Pau Gasol (foot injury) doesn't help matters, either, and he is expected to remain out for at least four more weeks. Add in the complete lack of cohesion between Steve Nash, Howard, Bryant and the rest, and the once-unthinkable notion of the Lakers missing the playoffs is very realistic.

The one advantage in their favor: Just 14 of their final 32 games are on the road, which will come in handy considering they're one of the worst road teams in the league (9-18). Fourteen of those games are against teams that currently have a winning record.

2. MVP race (of one?)

It's not a one-man race, but Miami Heat forward LeBron James has the lead and looking like he will cross the finish line first with two months left in the season.

It's like Usain Bolt in the 100 meters with countryman Yohan Blake right behind - Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant is Blake in this race. Durant should get an MVP someday, but it's going to be difficult to win it this season with James playing the way he is - seven consecutive games of 30 points or more and 69% shooting before the break.

Kobe Bryant is having one of his best seasons and New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul and San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker and Tim Duncan warrant consideration, too, but it's difficult to see how any of those players will receive many, if any, first-place votes.

3. Can anyone beat the Heat in the East?

It won't be easy for a team to unseat Miami. New York-Miami and Indiana-Miami have the potential to be fun and competitive series, but there's just too much talent on Miami. Obviously James' game is spectacular but guard Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are holding up their end of inclusion in the 'Big Three' - the trio is shooting better than 50%.

"We don't want to be playing just basketball. we can improve. We can get a lot better," Bosh said.

If Derrick Rose comes back to the Bulls and is healthy, they could be a dark horse. But at this point it's hard to see anyone keeping the Heat from winning the Eastern Conference for the third consecutive year.

4. How the West will be won

The San Antonio Spurs are the hottest team in the Western Conference, having won 14 of their past 15 games. But the Los Angeles Clippers are the best in the West so long as point guard Chris Paul is healthy, and their recent struggles (a 7-8 record going into the break) were, in large part, because Paul missed 12 of the past 19 games with a deep bruise in his right knee.

Paul appears to be feeling better again, as he finished his first half with a 24-point, 13-assist outing in a 125-101 win vs. the Lakers. He's an MVP-caliber player in every right, and - eight seasons in - is well aware that chances at a championship are fleeting. Yet the Clippers could be considering trade options leading up to Thursday's deadline, so a roster reshuffle could change things on that front. Oklahoma City will remain formidable as well, but the Thunder won just seven of 13 games going into the break.

5. Trade deadline

Where does Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith go? The Hawks don't want a discount deal for Smith, but why would a team give up valuable assets for Smith if they don't know if he will re-sign in the offseason. Or, why would a team where Smith wants to play sign him when they know they can re-sign him in the offseason?

Smith's representatives have been surveying the market for quite some time because it appears so unlikely he'd resign in Atlanta. The next few days will reveal whether there's a deal to be had.

A playoff team might be willing to take Orlando Magic guard J.J. Redick for the remainder of the season. After dealing Dwight Howard to the Lakers in the summer, first-year Magic general manager Rob Hennigan will be opportunistic as he continues the rebuilding effort.

Don't discard those Clippers-Celtics talks that could put Kevin Garnett in Los Angeles, either. Despite Boston's 7-1 record since point guard Rajon Rondo went down with a season-ending knee injury, the Celtics are known to be considering any and all options. Garnett said Saturday that he wouldn't waive his no-trade clause, but that could always change.

Not knowing Derrick Rose's situation and if he will play this season, the Bulls may be compelled to get under the luxury tax threshold and make a deal.

A lot can happen between now and Thursday. It is the NBA, and deals get done, regardless of complexity or logic.